Life-preserver.



N. K. RAMOS.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLlCATlON FILED on. 6, 1915.

Patented Apr. 11,1916.

INVENTOR S E S S E N n w ATTOR N EY THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 420.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

* lines.

'3 1s a transverse section on the line 3 NrrED s'rA'rns PATEN OFFICE.

NICK'K'. RAMOS, 0F LANSING, MICHIGAN.

LIFE-IPB-ESERVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Application filed October 6, 1915. Serial No. 54, 12

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, N101: K. RAMos, a subject of the King of Greece, residing at Lansing, in the countyof Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a life preserver of that type which, while completely inclosing and protecting the body of ahperson, permits movement of the limbs for the purpose of propulsion.

One object of this invention resides in providing a novel form of waterproof bag of a flexible nature and having buoyant means so arranged as to support the bag in a proper position in the water. 7

Another object resides in the shape of the bag which, when opened for occupancy, is similar to a closed deck boat.

A further object resides in the particular means for ingress and egress and which, when closed, formsv a water tight joint. And a still further object resides in the novel arrangement of observation windows,

air tubes and means for attaching tackle to lift the device out of the water. 7

With the above and other objects in-view I will now proceed to describe a specific form ofthe invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the life preserver showing an occupant in 'dotte'd Fig. 2 is a top plan view, and Figf.

Fig. 2.

In detail: The invention, as shown in the drawing, comprises a substantially rectangular frame 1 of wood or other buoyant material, to which the members 2, forming a pocket book closure, are hinged at 3. The frame 1. has secured thereto a waterproof bag 4 of suitable flexible waterproof fabric, and further, this material is extended to cover the members 2. The members 2 carry packing elements 5 which abut when'said members are in the closed position and thus form a water tight joint. Alsoone of the members 2 has riveted thereto at 6 a sheath 7 which, When-said members 2 are closed, overlaps the opposite member 2 to protect the joint therebetween. Also on the inner edges of the members 2 handles 7 are provided which permit the person to close thedevice after occupying the same. The said folded it may vgreat deal of space.

members 2 are maintained in a closed position by the lock 8 whichis onlyoperable from without by means of the key member 9, thus there isno danger of the occupant opening the device before being picked up by a rescue party. Since if the device could;

stantially co-extensive in length with the frame 1, are the buoyant members 12 and located directly beneath the members 12 are buoyant fins 13 which are hinged atl l so as to fold. Also at. each extremity of the boat like bag 4 is a float 15. All of these buoyant members are preferably of cork and are'covered by the same, waterproof fabric of which the bag 1 is constructed, any seams being suitably reinforced so as to be watertight. Furthermore when the device is be strapped together by straps16. At the head endof'the boat likebag, and

in what may be suitably termed the upper deck thereof are provided the observation windows 17. Also in the sides of the bag,

at the head and foot ends thereof are flexpropel the device without exposing the same to voracious marine creatures and to the deleterious action of the sea water. l It will be evident from the construction described in the foregoingparagraphs that,

when not in use,-the device maybe coinpactly folded and stored away in substantially the same manner as the usual belt life preserver and also it does not require a Furthermore in use it completely incloses the person and is thereforemuch morepractical than a belt life. preserver.

In use, after untying the straps 16 and opening out the life preserver as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the user disposes himself within the same in the position shown in Fig. 1, that is with his arms in 18 and legs also be stored in 19 and with his head directly beneath the observation windows 17, and a suitable mattressEZO of buoyant material and doubled over at 21. to provide a head and back rest is provided which while adding to the comfort of the occupant of the device also adds considerable to the stability and serviceability. When the occupant is in the position shown in l, the closure members 2 are locked and the device lowered into the water by means of suitable tackle attached to eye bolts 22. It will be apparent that enough provisions to last for some days may within the device. And therefore reasonable comfortis afforded the occupant; In rescuing the rescue party may I Withdraw the device from the water by suitable tacklehooked in eye bolts 22 andmay open the closures 2 by means of key member 9.

While I have herein described and illustrated a specific embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless tobe understood that, in practice, various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. l

I claim l. A life preserver including a Water tight compartment adapted to receive a person,

buoyant means carried fore and aft and on the port and starboard sides of said compartment to support the person ina sub- 7 stantially lateral position when said life preserver is in the water, and means mcas- 'ing and yet permitting propulsion movements of the limbs exteriorly of said compartment in a lateral plane.

2. A life preserver including a substan- 4. ,1 1' tially rectangular frame, a boat like bag attached to said frame, closure members carried by said frame, air tubes, and buoyant means carrled fore and aft of sa1d bag and on the frame.

A life preserver including a' substanport and starboard sides of said .tially rectangular frame, a boat like bag of flexible waterproof material carried by said Gapies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing frame, a pocket book closure for said bag also carried by said frame, means for imparting buoyancy to said life preserver, and means to cover and yet permit movement of the limbs of a person exterio-rly of said bag.

at. A life preserver including a substantially rectangular frame of buoyant mate rial, a boat like bag of flexible Waterproof material carried by. said frame, a pocket book closure for said bag also carried by said frame and of buoyant construction, means disposed in a lateral plane for imparting buoyancy to the life preserver, and means permitting movement of the limbs of a person exteriorly of said bag.

A life preserver including a flexible bag having a water tight closure, said bag being of boat-like configuration, floats flexibly connected with said bag on the port and starboard sides thereof, and other floats carried fore and aft of said bag.

6. A life preserver including a flexible bag having a rectangular frame, a pocket book closure therefor, and buoyant means fiexibly'connected to said frame on opposite sides to support said bag.

7. A life preserver including a flexible bag having a rectangular'frame, a pocket book closure therefor extending upwardly and hinged. to said frame, and buoyant means flexibly connected to said frame on opposite sides to support said bag.

7 8. A life preserver Vincluding a flexible bag having a rectangular frame, a pocket book closure therefor including two members hinged to said frame and extending upwardly therefrom, flexible air conduits attached. to said'hinged members and com1nunicatin'g With the interior of said bag, and buoyant means flexibly connected to said frame on opposite sides to support said bag. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

NICK K. RAMOS.

. Witnesses: 7

WM. C. HINMAN, S. BENNETT.

the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

